Folding case for timepieces



June 24,y 1930. w. B. EARL FOLDINGk CASE FOR TIMEPIECES Filed June 9, 1927 Patented June 24'1930 PATENT CFFECE WILLIAM B. EARL, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS FOLDING CASE FOR TIMEPIECES Application inea June 9, 1927. serial No. 197,575.

The present invention relates to portable and ornamental cases for time pieces, such as watches. and the like.

The purpose of the invention is to improve and reorganize portable, folding cases for watches, lor similar time pieces, to particularly adapt the construction of such cases to the employment of celluloid and similar or equivalent materials. l A further object of the invention is to provide a folding case of this character which lcompletely encloses and protects the time piece against breakage when the container is closed, which rigidly holds the time piece in fixed position preventing,` displacement with relation to the sight opening, and which retains the time piece in an erect and clearly visible position when open.

With these and other objects in view, the

various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

Y In the accompanying drawings illustrating the .preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective in elevation of the case open with the time piece visible;

Fig. 2 is a section in elevation of the case shown in Fig. l;

,Fig. 3 vis a cross-section of the case in closed position; Y

Fig. 4l is a detail illustrating the clamping devices for holding the time piece in posil tion; and

Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the positioning and clamping devices for maintaining the time piece in proper position.

The case shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises complementary bottom and cover portions, indicatedl respectively at 1 0 and 12, connected at one end by an elongated hinge 14C. The two portions when closed are retained in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a catch 16 operated by a spring 18. The catch may be released by a knob 2() extending outwardly beyond the bottom portion of the case. l/Vhen in closed position, as will be evident, a case of substantial depth is formed. Assembled within the case and hinged to the bottom portion to swing in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cover is aholder 22, comprising a front portion 24 having a sight opening 26 formed therein, and rearwardly extending wings 28 which are pivoted to the sides of 'the bottom portion by pivot pins 30. The holder is provided with agenerally U-shaped clamp 34 having side portions 35 abutted and cemented to the wings 28, as indicated in Fig. 4. This claim, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 1, ris turned inwardly at 38 adjacent the upper portion in a inanner to yieldingly engage the upper portion of a time piece assembled within the holder and frictionally prevent its removal. The entrance of the time piece Within the holder is facilitated by turning outwardly the tips 40 of the clamp, as indicated in Fig. 4. With this construction the time piece is firmly held against displacement within the holder, and at the same time the crystal is protected. against breakage through the projection of the front portion of the holder beyond it. The entire construction, including the bottom and top portions of 'the case and the holder, is preferably made of sheet Celluloid of a sufficient weight and thickness to have the desired rigidity and avoid warping in use. The clamp 34e is preferably made of sheet material substantially thinner than material comprising the remainder of the case, and of sufficient flexibility to exert the desired clamping action upon the time piece. lVhen the case is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, the holder lies therein intermediate the bottom and cover portions. In this position of the holder, the rearwardly extending wings lie closely within the sides of the bottom portion 10 and project thereabove to provide a shoulder which seats the cover member in` closed position and tends to prevent lateral or sidewise movement. lVhen the case is open, the holder is swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1, and is conveniently retained in this position through engagement of the front edge 50 of the cover portion behind a shoulder 52 formed by the upward extension of the front portion 24. As will be evident 5 from Fig. 2, the top portion of the wings 28 lies below the upper edge of the front portion at the junction of the wings to provide this holding shoulder. Furthermore the width ofthe holder is slightly less than lo the width of the cover portion so that the depending sides of the latter are positioned without the wings of the holder when the two are maintained in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A 15 The present consti-notion forms a simple, attractive and efcient container for small time pieces. Not only is the container adapted to attractively display the time piece when it desired to use the latter, but u when closed serves as an effective protection against breakage and misl'ialidling of the time piece. Furthermore, with the construction as indicated, the time piece may be rewound and set without removal from the z5 holder. p -f lVhat is claimed is: e p A folding case for time pieces of Celluloid comprising complementary bottom and cover portions of sheet material hingedly sn connected, an intermediate holder having a front portion with a sight opening formed therein adapted to lie Within the bottom and cover portions when the case is closed and hingedly connected with one of the portions, 35, rearwardly extendin wings upon the holder having a depth su cient to encompass a time piece, and a U-shaped clamp connected to the wings and designed to frictionally maintain a time piece centered within the 40. holder behind the front portion and with the -face exposed through the sight opening.

WILLIAM B. EARL. 

